Chronicle Covers: When 49ers’ founder died watching his team

Historic Chronicle Front Page October 28, 1957 San Francisco 49ers owner Tony Morabito would die of a heart attack during the game at Kezar Chron365, Chroncover

Photo: The Chronicle 1957

He went out doing what he loved, and his team won one for him.

The Chronicle’s front page from Oct. 28, 1957, covers the death of 49ers co-founder Tony Morabito while he was watching his team at Kezar Stadium.

“Morabito, 47, intense and outspoken owner of the 49ers, suffered a heart attack in the lower press box during the second quarter of the game with the Chicago Bears,” the story read. “The 49er team physician, Dr. William E. O’Grady, was called from the field to the press box and administered the oxygen and stimulants.”

Morabito was a huge football fan but had been told to get out of the game because of the stress it was putting on his heart after he had endured medical problems.

During his final game, the 49ers were trailing the Bears 17-7 when Morabito collapsed, as seen in The Chronicle’s photo illustration on the front page. The team learned of his death in the third quarter and stormed to a 21-17 victory.

After his death, the Morabito family would control the 49ers until 1977, when the team was purchased by Eddie DeBartolo Jr. of Youngstown, Ohio.

Byline Hall of Fame: Let’s welcome Bruce Lee — no, not that Bruce Lee — to The Chronicle’s Byline Hall of Fame. What a kick.

Space Rover: A story low on the front page read, “Radio Moscow tonight introduced the first space traveler — a shaggy Russian dog wearing a space suit and a transparent helmet — and announced that an animal-carrying satellite will be launched soon.” Wait, he’s not coming back? Ruff assignment.

Rich back then: “J. Paul Getty, former California oilman, today was named ‘the richest man in America’ by Fortune magazine,” a short story on the front page read. “A survey of personal fortunes by the magazine showed Getty at the top of a list of 76 Americans with more than $75 million. It estimated Getty’s (total) fortune at between $700 million and $1 billion.” That guy should build a museum.

See more front pages: Go to SFChronicle.com/covers to search a database of hundreds of Chronicle Covers articles that showcase the newspaper’s history.